Bodysuit Care 101: How to Wash, Dry, and Store Your Bodysuits

Quick answer

Wash bodysuits inside out in cold water on a gentle cycle, or hand wash anything lace or high-stretch. Skip the dryer and lay them flat to dry, then store them folded rather than hung so the straps and stretch don't distort. Check the fabric blend first: non-stretch and lace pieces need the gentlest handling.

Bodysuits take more stress than almost anything else in your drawer. The fabric stretches over your torso, the snap closure gets pulled every time you wear it, and the straps hold tension all day. A careless wash cycle can turn a good fit into a baggy or twisted one.

The good news is that bodysuit care is mostly about a few habits, not special products. This guide walks through sorting, washing, drying, and storing your bodysuits step by step, with the common mistake to avoid at each stage.

Why bodysuits need their own care routine

A bodysuit is a stretch garment with a snap closure and thin straps, so it behaves differently in the wash than a T-shirt. Heat and agitation are the two main enemies: they relax elastic, shrink lace, and wear down the snap hardware. That is why bodysuit fabric care starts with reading the blend and treating each piece according to how much stretch it has.

You do not need to baby every bodysuit equally. A high-stretch nylon piece can handle a mesh bag and a gentle cycle, while a lace bodysuit or a non-stretch style is safer hand washed. Matching the method to the fabric is the single biggest thing you can do to make bodysuit last longer.

• Check the blend before washing: more elastane means more heat sensitivity.
• Fasten the snap closure before washing so it does not snag other pieces.
• Turn the bodysuit inside out to protect the outer surface and any lace.

Sorting and prep before you wash

Separate bodysuits from heavy items like jeans and towels, which create friction that pills stretch fabric. Keep lace and high-stretch pieces in their own load or wash them by hand. If you are washing several bodysuits together, make sure the colors are similar, especially deep reds and blacks that can bleed in the first few washes.

Before the bodysuit goes in, close the snaps and check the straps for twists. A twisted strap washed under agitation can set a crease that is hard to remove. This two-minute prep step prevents most of the damage people blame on the washing machine.

• Wash like colors together; separate darks from lights.
• Use a mesh laundry bag for any bodysuit with lace or delicate straps.
• Empty pockets and check for jewelry or hair pins that can snag fabric.

How to wash a bodysuit by fabric type

For high-stretch nylon and smooth knit bodysuits, a cold, gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent works well. Avoid fabric softener, which coats elastic fibers and reduces stretch over time. If the bodysuit has a lace overlay or a non-stretch construction, hand wash it in cool water with a drop of gentle soap, then rinse until the water runs clear.

When in doubt, hand washing is the safer choice. It takes a few minutes and removes the two biggest risks: heat and agitation. If you do use a machine, choose the shortest gentle cycle and skip the spin cycle on high.

• Use cold water and mild detergent for all bodysuit fabrics.
• Never use bleach or fabric softener on stretch or lace bodysuits.
• Hand wash lace and non-stretch styles; machine wash only sturdy knits.

Drying without stretching or shrinking

The dryer is the fastest way to ruin a bodysuit. Heat breaks down elastane, which is why a bodysuit that fit well can come out loose or misshapen. Instead, gently squeeze out excess water without wringing, then lay the bodysuit flat on a towel or drying rack. Reshape it while damp so the straps and body lie straight.

If you are short on space, hang the bodysuit by the body, not by the straps, to avoid stretching them. Keep it out of direct sun, which can fade deep colors. A bodysuit that air dries flat will keep its original fit far longer than one that goes through a hot cycle.

• Lay flat to dry; never tumble dry on medium or high heat.
• Reshape the bodysuit while damp so it dries in its natural form.
• Hang by the body, not the straps, if you must hang it.

Storing bodysuits so they keep their shape

Storing bodysuits is where many people undo their good washing habits. Hanging a bodysuit by its straps puts constant tension on the elastic and can leave shoulder marks. Folding is better: lay the bodysuit flat, fold it in half or thirds, and stack it in a drawer. This keeps the snap closure flat and the straps relaxed.

If you prefer to hang, use a padded hanger and fold the bodysuit over the bar rather than suspending it by the straps. Keep bodysuits away from rough hooks or zippers that can snag lace. A little care in storage means the next wear feels like the first.

• Fold bodysuits flat in a drawer instead of hanging by the straps.
• Use a padded hanger and drape over the bar if hanging is necessary.
• Keep lace bodysuits away from rough surfaces and sharp hardware.

Your 5-step bodysuit care routine

1. 1. Check the fabric blend and fasten the snaps: Read the label to see how much elastane or lace is in the bodysuit. Close the snap closure and turn the bodysuit inside out before it goes anywhere near water. Mistake to avoid: tossing a lace bodysuit in with towels. Checkpoint: if it has lace or less than 5% elastane, plan to hand wash.
2. 2. Sort by color and fabric weight: Wash bodysuits with similar colors and similar-weight fabrics. Keep them away from jeans, towels, and anything with zippers that can snag or pill the surface. Mistake to avoid: mixing deep reds with light colors in the first wash. Checkpoint: when in doubt, wash bodysuits in their own small load.
3. 3. Wash cold and gentle, or hand wash: Use cold water and a mild detergent on a short gentle cycle, or hand wash in cool water. Skip fabric softener and bleach entirely. Mistake to avoid: using the normal cycle with high spin. Checkpoint: if you can see the fabric twisting in the machine, it is too rough.
4. 4. Dry flat, never in the dryer: Gently squeeze out water without wringing, then lay the bodysuit flat on a towel or rack. Reshape it while damp and keep it out of direct sun. Mistake to avoid: hanging by the straps, which stretches them. Checkpoint: the bodysuit should dry in its natural shape, not pulled or pinned.
5. 5. Store folded, not hung: Fold bodysuits flat in a drawer so the straps and snap stay relaxed. If you hang, drape over a padded hanger instead of suspending by the straps. Mistake to avoid: hanging a stretch bodysuit by its straps for months. Checkpoint: the next time you wear it, the fit should feel the same as day one.

Fabric facts that change how you wash

• Goddess High Stretch Bodystocking: One-Size, High Stretch Nylon High-stretch nylon handles a gentle cold cycle well, but heat is its main enemy, so air dry flat to protect the stretch.
• Rock It: Non-Stretch 85% Polyamide, 15% Elastane A non-stretch blend with elastane needs gentler handling than a knit; hand wash or use a mesh bag to avoid distorting the fit.
• Mimi: Lace construction with US sizes XS to L Lace is the most fragile bodysuit fabric, so hand wash in cool water and never wring or tumble dry.

Bodysuit care comes down to four habits: check the fabric, wash cold and gentle, dry flat, and store folded. Do that consistently and your bodysuits will keep their stretch, shape, and color far longer, no matter which style you reach for.